'Sara' sheet music query

RavenOfRhiannon · #1 05-23-2016, 09:02 PM

Here's a quick question for the musicians in the forum. I'm learning piano & my first song is Sara. I purchased the Fleetwood Mac Anthology book with sheet music for every song on the white album, Rumours & Tusk in one book. The Sara sheet music seems to be in a different key than the actual recording. Am I imagining that? If this is the case, is there somewhere else I can find the sheet music in the original key? TIA

OutsideTheRain · #2 05-23-2016, 09:25 PM

Yes, the sheet music is in the key of G. The original recording is in the key of F

HomerMcvie · #3 05-24-2016, 12:20 AM

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/f/f...c/sara_crd.htm

Does this help? Or you need the actual piano music?

Edit - or here....

http://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/I...2/Product.aspx

Wdm6789 · #4 05-24-2016, 05:52 AM

I'm really jealous. I played the piano when I was a kid, my parents made me take lessons for like three years. I got to be pretty good. I didn't stick with it though and I definitely regret it. I don't even remember how to read music anymore. I wish I could still play, mainly so I could play Sara on the piano. Hopefully someday I'll have the time to take lessons again.

RavenOfRhiannon · #5 05-24-2016, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/f/f...c/sara_crd.htm

Does this help? Or you need the actual piano music?

Edit - or here....

http://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/I...2/Product.aspx

That's the sheet music I have. It's in a totally different key. Maybe I can find a way to get it transposed.

RavenOfRhiannon · #6 05-24-2016, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutsideTheRain

Yes, the sheet music is in the key of G. The original recording is in the key of F

Thanks for the info!

RavenOfRhiannon · #7 05-24-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

I'm really jealous. I played the piano when I was a kid, my parents made me take lessons for like three years. I got to be pretty good. I didn't stick with it though and I definitely regret it. I don't even remember how to read music anymore. I wish I could still play, mainly so I could play Sara on the piano. Hopefully someday I'll have the time to take lessons again.

I never took a lesson in my life. I was in band in high school, but I'm 43 now. I'm teaching myself, so I would probably give any piano teacher out there heart palpitations with my methods. Aside from the emotional attachment of the song, I chose Sara because I knew it would be fairly easy, it's the same 3 phrases repeated at various intervals.
The trick is, knowing I'm not learning piano in order to perform, or songwrite or anything. I just want to be able to sit down and play some of my favorite songs myself, in my own home (ok, MAYBE I'll throw on a shawl). Once I believed that, it's gone very well. I can just learn at my own pace, for myself.

HomerMcvie · #8 05-24-2016, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavenOfRhiannon

That's the sheet music I have. It's in a totally different key. Maybe I can find a way to get it transposed.

I didn't notice that on the piano version, but you're right! WTF? Because G is a slightly easier key to play in???(actually, on guitar, it's a MUCH easier key to play in - I'll bet that's the reason - although it's still lame).

Mr Scarrott · #9 05-24-2016, 01:52 PM

Silly question, maybe, but is your piano a digital one, or a traditional one? If it's a digital one, check if it has a transpose function... then you can play to your heart's content in G and it will sound in F...

RavenOfRhiannon · #10 05-24-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Scarrott

Silly question, maybe, but is your piano a digital one, or a traditional one? If it's a digital one, check if it has a transpose function... then you can play to your heart's content in G and it will sound in F...

It's a baby grand, with PNOmation. Unfortunately there's no transpose function. 😕

RavenOfRhiannon · #11 05-24-2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I didn't notice that on the piano version, but you're right! WTF? Because G is a slightly easier key to play in???(actually, on guitar, it's a MUCH easier key to play in - I'll bet that's the reason - although it's still lame).

Agreed. #lame

Mr Scarrott · #12 05-24-2016, 05:11 PM

You could try this program, which seems to offer a free trial:

http://www.fortenotation.com/en/prod...-music-reader/

I've never tried it, so don't know if it's any good. I've tried playing Sara on the piano by improvising from guitar chords..it sort of worked.

It's annoying when things get transposed needlessly... F and G aren't (one flat and one sharp respectively) exactly scary keys to play in...

I was trying to play some Rubinstein the other day only to realise when I listened to a pro playing it on youtube that it had been transposed from E flat to F on my manuscript. I hit the transpose button to put it down 2 semitones on my Yamaha and felt a bit of a cheat! One day I'll be able to transpose without any mechanical aid, but that's a long way off...

iamnotafraid · #13 05-24-2016, 05:17 PM

I remember back in the 80's I purchased my first songbook.
It's still the best Fleetwood Mac songbook I've seen.

I can still remember looking at Sara and thinking I'll
never be able to play all those chord changes. Though the
chords are easy - there are so many changes if you don't
cheat.

pattyfan · #14 05-25-2016, 12:03 AM

I don't know how much of a beginner you are, but luckily Stevie's songs aren't complicated musically. I never realized that Sara was actually in F and not G

Thanks for that! You just play everything one note lower, so it's a major F chord, a major G chord, and a minor A chord. Or, just play it in G

I have for 35 years.

Or, as a way to help you learn the keys, just play one bar in the key that it is written in, then just try it one note lower. I"m sure you know Sara really well, so you'll know when it sounds right or wrong. Have fun and congratulations. It's great that you are learning.

Kevin

RavenOfRhiannon · #15 05-25-2016, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattyfan

I don't know how much of a beginner you are, but luckily Stevie's songs aren't complicated musically. I never realized that Sara was actually in F and not G

Thanks for that! You just play everything one note lower, so it's a major F chord, a major G chord, and a minor A chord. Or, just play it in G

I have for 35 years.

Or, as a way to help you learn the keys, just play one bar in the key that it is written in, then just try it one note lower. I"m sure you know Sara really well, so you'll know when it sounds right or wrong. Have fun and congratulations. It's great that you are learning.

Kevin

I am ABSOLUTE beginner. This is my first piece to learn, and I know I'm going about it in a way that is contrary to what every music teacher would recommend. I so not to a point where I can transpose by sight. I'll have to get the music written out. Luckily, as was pointed out, it's basically the same three phrases repeated at various intervals. If I can get those three phrases transposed, I'm Gold.